Please find enclosed a letter
supporting the Church’s requirement of celibacy for ordination to the
priesthood in the Latin Church. This letter is sent from 90 priests of the
Diocese of Arlington, whose names you will find at the bottom of the letter.

This letter represents the decision
of 90 diocesan priests that it would be prudent and useful to the Church to
declare our support for mandatory celibacy in this particular manner at this
particular time. It in no way represents a vote by the priests of the Arlington
Diocese—the gifts of Christ and the venerable traditions of the Church do not
require our approval for legitimacy.

We pray that our support will be
helpful to you and your brother bishops in defending this divine gift, and will
assist the faithful who are so often confused by the discordant voices among
the clergy.

It saddens us to
learn that brother priests from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee have publicly
called for an end to mandatory celibacy for priestly ordination. In response to
their letter we, the undersigned priests of the Diocese of Arlington, declare
our support for this discipline, which we joyfully promised at ordination.

They hope that
permitting the ordination of married men will generate more vocations. Common
sense and historical experience indicate, however, that reducing the demands of
the priesthood will not increase vocations, because lessening sacrifice never
inspires men to offer their lives to Christ. In times of crisis, the wisdom and
instinct of the Church have always been to respond with greater sacrifice, not
less. What will inspire more vocations is celibacy lived well, not celibacy set
aside.

The theological
and pastoral reasons for mandatory celibacy in the Latin Church are well known,
set forth in the documents of Vatican II, the Catechism of the Catholic Church
and the writings of our current Holy Father. The celibate priest participates
in Christ’s spousal love for the Church, bears witness to the Kingdom of
Heaven, and serves Christ and the Church with an undivided heart.

We desire that you
and your brother bishops know of our devotion to this source and sign of
pastoral charity, and our desire that it remain mandatory for priestly
ordination. Further, we believe that continued discussion of this issue only
confuses the faithful and deprives the Church of the clarity needed to inspire
vocations.

Finally, we wholeheartedly
commend you for your treatment of this matter in you letter dated September 3.
May God bless you in your important work for Christ and His Church.